Gun training and trigger mechanism



Jan. 17, 1961 Filed Dec. 1, 1959 J. WEIBEL, JR 2,968,223

GUN TRAINING AND TRIGGER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-sheaf 1 INVENTOR.

John \lfeib e1, Jr.

Jan. 17, 1961 J. WEIBEL, JR

GUN TRAINING AND TRIGGER MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

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John \N BibEl J l'! y GUN TRAINING AND TRIGGER MECHANISM John Weibel, Jr., Dayton, Ohio, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Dec. 1, 1959, Ser. No. 856,630

Claims. (CI. 89-41) This invention relates to a trigger mechanism mounted on a crank handle and more particularly to a crank handle for trainmg a gun and a trigger mounted thereon in such a fashion as to prevent accidental firing.

In a mounted gun having a training mechanism, an operator can position his weapon with greater accuracy and efficiency if the training mechanism and trigger are constructed as an integral unit. In the present invention a crank handle is rotatably mounted on a crank block and a trigger is mounted on the crank handle. In order to fire the gun the trigger must be depressed and simultaneously the crank handle must be rotated about its-own axis. Rotation of the crank block by the handle is not effective to fire the gun even if the trigger is held depressed. A positively engaging one-way connection is provided between the depressed trigger and the firing mechanism such that if the crank handle is rotated about its own axis in the wrong direction, the firing mechanism will not be actuated.

It is an object of this invention to provide a gun training mechanism having a trigger mounted on the handle thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gun training mechanism having a trigger mounted thereon in such a manner that in conjunction with a depressing of the trigger, a rotation of the crank handle about its own axis is necessary in order to cause the gun to fire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gun training mechanism with a trigger having a one-way positively engaging connection with its associated firing mechanism when depressed.

These and other objects will become more apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the gun training and trigger mechanism;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1 showing the actuating rack and pinion assembly for the gun firing mechanism;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showingthe chain connection between the trigger engaging mechanism and the remaining portion of the gun firing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1 and illustrates the one-way trigger-engaging drive mechanism; and

Figure 5 illustrates a broken away sectional view similar to Figure 4-, showing the trigger in firing position.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a fixed portion 1 of a gun. Rotatably mounted within the gun portion 1 by means of roller bearings 2 and 3, is a hollow shaft 4. Fixedly secured to hollow shaft 4 by means of a key 5 is worm gear 6 which cooperates through conventional gearing, not shown, to train the gun when rotated by the shaft 4. The left end of shaft 4 is provided with snapring 7 which cooperates through disk 8 with gun part States atent 368,223 Patented Jan. 17, 198i 11 and radial slot 12. A cover plate 13 having aperture 14 is secured to crank block 10 by means of screws 15.

Rotatably received within hollow shaft 4 is the shaft 16 which carries at its right end a gear 17. On the left end of shaft 16 is secured pinion 18 which meshes with rack 19. Rotation of shaft 16 by gear 17 causes rotation of pinion 18 to move rack 19 which actuates conventional firing mechanism, not shown.

The crank block 11) has formed near one end thereof an integral boss 21) and is provided with a bore 21 and coaxial counterbore 2.2. The stepped spindle 23 is received in the bore 21 and counterbore 22 of the crank block 10 and is connected thereto by means of nut 24 and washer 25. The opposite end of spindle 23 is provided with head 26. Rotatably mounted on the spindle 23 by means of roller bearings 27 is handle 28. Handle 28 and crank block 10 together comprise a crank mechanism. Handle 28 has its longitudinal axis along spindle 23. The handle is provided at one end thereof with recess 29 and intermediate its ends with a longitudinal slot 3h. A trigger 31 is pivotably mounted within slot 31} by pivot pin 32 and is biased outwardly by means of compression leaf-spring 31 disposed between the trigger 31 and handle 28.

Rotatably mounted on spindle 23 by bearings 34 is sleeve 35 disposed within radial slot 12 in crank block 10 and recess 29 in handle 28. Sleeve 35' carries gear 36 at the left end thereof and pinion 37 at the right end thereof. Chain 38 connects gears 17 and 36.

As shown in Figure 4, trigger 31 is offset to the right from the vertical axis of handle 28. This lateral displacement of the trigger permits positive engagement, when depressed against spring 33, with pinion 37 as crank handle 28 is rotated about its own axis in a counterclockwise direction, thereby turning gears 36 and 17, shaft 16, pinion 18 resulting in the translation of rack 19. Should crank handle 28 be rotated clockwise on its own axis, when in engagement with pinion 37 by means of depressed trigger 31, it can readily be seen that because of the off-set relation between trigger 31 and pinion 37 these two elements will not be positively engaged but will allow pinion 37 to slide over trigger 31 indicating thereby to an operator of this device that handle 28 is thus being rotated in the wrong direction.

In summary, the device operates as follows: An operator will grasp handle 28 and revolve it around the longitudinal axis of shaft 4 thereby turning it and connected worm 6, normally in operative relation with a driven gear, not shown, on a gun to position it. Note that during this cranking or revolving operation, parts associated with the trigger mechanism are not actuated. It is not until trigger 31 is depressed, accidentally or intentionally, so as to engage pinion 37, and this action being followed by a twist or rotation of handle 28 about its own axis, that the triggering mechanism will be actuated so as to result in a translation of rack member 19. Thus it becomes evident that merely cranking shaft 4 by means of handle 28 will not cause firing of the gun even though trigger 31 is depressed.

Having particularly described my invention, it is obvious that many modifications and variations may be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a gun training and triggering mechanism comprising: a first shaft, a crank mechanism connected to said shaft, a trigger mounted on said crank mechanism, rotatable means located interiorly of said first shaft and said crank mechanism and independently movable therefrom, said crank mechanism having a handle portion, said handle portion being rotatable about its own longitudinal axis, said rotatable means engageable with said trigger and operably connected thereby to said rotatable portion when said trigger is depressed for firing.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said crank mechanism further includes a crank block connected to said crank handle, said block being provided with a central recess and elongated slot means along one side thereof, said block being further provided with an integral boss at one end thereof containing a bore and coaxial counterbore; a stepped spindle, said handle being connected through its longitudinal axis to said crank block by said spindle and being rotatable thereabout.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said rotatable means comprises a second shaft positioned interiorly of said first shaft and extending therefrom on both ends, a first pinion mounted on one end of said second shaft, a'rack cooperatively meshed with said first pinion, a first gear mounted on the opposite ends of said second shaft, said opposite end protruding into said central recess, a second gear 25 .rotatably mounted on said spindle, said first and second acterized in that the rotatable means additionally include a second pinion coaxially spaced from said second gear and rotatable therewith, said second pinion being engageable by said trigger when operatively depressed, said trigger being pivotally attached to said crank handle and biased outwardly by resilient means, said trigger further characterized in that its line of action in pivoting into and out of engagement with said second pinion is not radial.

5. A gun training and triggering mechanism comprising two spaced apart parallel members, each of said members being provided with rotatable means which rotate independently of said members, one of said members being provided with an externally threaded portion adapted for engagement With conventional traversing means of a gun, said spaced apart members being connected by a rigfd means having a recess provided with a cover plate and containing a driving means connecting said rotatable means to each other, the other of said members containing a resiliently biased trigger for engagement with said rotatable means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,096,155 Dawson et al May 12, 1914 2,368,191 Berg Jan. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 879,223 France Nov. 10, 1942 

